The Rockies avoid sweep with offensive explosion in Arizona finale
Jul 9, 2021, 6:45 AM
The Rockies’ offense finally arrived on their road trip. With five extra-base hits and a terrific, 7-for-14 day with runners in scoring position, Colorado exploded for nine runs to salvage a win in an otherwise disappointing, three-game stay in Arizona.
Powered behind five doubles — a pair from catcher Dom Nunez and one apiece by shortstop Trevor Story, and outfielder Raimel Tapia and Yonathan Daza — the Rockies’ nine runs marked their highest total since May 1, when they scored 14 in a win over these same Diamondbacks.
“We just haven’t done that enough over the course of the year, especially on the road, so it was good to see some extra-base hits,” manager Bud Black said. “Those have been few and far between.”
Colorado, now 7-33 (.175) on the road, will reach the midpoint in their road schedule on Friday, when they face the Padres in San Diego.
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NEXT UP: Rockies (38-50, 5th in NL West) at Padres (51-38, 3rd in NL West) | Friday, Jul. 9 at 1:40 p.m. | COL: Kyle Freeland (1-2, 5.50 ERA) vs. SD: Blake Snell (3-3, 4.99 ERA)
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NOTES
• Chi Chi Gonzalez earned the win on Thursday with a serviceable, five-inning start that saw him allow three earned runs while allowing six hits and striking out five. Gonzalez has a 3.18 ERA in his last three spot starts.
• C.J. Cron was hit twice by pitches; the second was a 92 mph fastball that struck him in the helmet. Cron was lifted from the game, but passed a concussion test afterward. “He’s doing fine, fortunately. Obviously, it didn’t look good from the get-go,” manager Bud Black said. “It looked like it was a direct blow, but maybe he turned his head enough to make it a glancing blow. He felt pretty good. He was lucid and clear-thinking.”
• Dom Nunez began the day hitting .159 on the season. After a 3-for-4 night with two doubles, Nunez’s average now sits at .174. “This is his first full year in the big leagues, and it’s an experience. I think he’s handled it well, and there is still growth,” said bench coach Mike Redmond, a former catcher himself.
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THE FINAL WORD
“Everybody that played today contributed in some way, and when that happens with an entire lineup, good things happen.” — Catcher Dom Nunez, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles on Thursday.
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STARTING LINEUP
CF Garrett Hampson
LF Raimel Tapia
SS Trevor Story
2B Brendan Rodgers
3B Ryan McMahon
1B C.J. Cron
RF Yonathan Daza
C Dom Nunez
SP Chi Chi Gonzalez
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INJURY WATCH
• Austin Gomber (left forearm tightness) was placed on the 10-day IL after leaving his Jun. 19 start. He played catch on Jun. 28 in an effort to build toward throwing bullpen sessions, meaning that he likely won’t return until mid-July.
• Robert Stephenson (strained upper back) was placed on the 10-day IL on Jun. 28.
• Matt Adams (right elbow soreness) was injured during the Jun. 8 game and was placed on the 10-day IL on Jun. 9. He started taking batting practice on Jun. 26 and may be sent on a minor-league rehab assignment soon.
• Jordan Sheffield (torn right lat) was injured on Jun. 3 and was placed on the 10-day IL. He is expected to miss at least two months.
• Scott Oberg (blood clots) had surgery prior to the end of Spring Training. He was placed on the 60-day IL on Mar. 27 and his season is in doubt.
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Shawn Drotar is the host of “The Fan Late Night with Shawn Drotar;” weeknights from 10:00 p.m. to midnight — only on 104.3 The Fan
